Irrigation device



Sept. 27, 1938. w. H. COLES ET AL IRRIGATION DEVICE Filed May 8, 1936 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Sept. 27, 1938.

W. H. COLES ET AL IRRIGATION DEVICE Filed May 8, 1936 l MIMI I 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 i! l 14- 1 39 I T 4-0 Patented Sept. 27, 1938 4 i UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I l: IRRIGATION'DEVIOE v i Walter H. ColesandBert J. hlelsonla'lroyy Ohio, V

assignors'to The Skinner Irrigation'Company,.

Troy, Ohio, a corporation or Ohio 7: W N

Application May 8, 1936,..Serial: No. 78,688

end of the water supply conduit;

This invention relates to water sprinklers and the like, and more particularly to sprinkling or irrigating apparatus adapted for underground systems having provision for readily connecting Another object of the invention is the provision of a construction of the character mentioned in which the valve casing is provided with a removable valve seat, held in place by a'top member which provides an attachment means to the removable water conduit or sprinkling head,-

the construction being such that the valve seat and the valve are free to be pulled out inan upward direction whenthe top member of the casing is removed, and Without substantially disturbing the ground around the body member-0f the-casing. 7

.Another object of the invention is the provision, in a sprinkling apparatus of the character mentioned, of an underground valve casing having a cover adapted for self-locking engagement with the top of the valve' casing and arranged so that the cover may be openedonly bya suitable key device.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description;

the appended claims and the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is a side elevation of a sprinkling system embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a central vertical section the valve casingand its associated parts, the

apparatus being shown in .its normal positionin the ground;

Fig. 3' is a central vertical sectionof the? valve casing, showing the cover closed the valve in closed position;

' Fig. 4 is a topplan View of the'sprinklingapparatus showing the cover closed; v Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5-5 of '4';j 1 Fig. 6 is a bottom view of the cover,"'show ing the lock in its normal position; and Fig. 7 is a detailed View showing the *lower Referringniore particularly to the drawings by reference numerals,-lfl generally designates" a valve casing adapted to be supported under ground with its upper end substantially at the ground level. It will be understood that the surrounding ground level can be slightly above or slightly below: the upper end of the valve casing, as desired; although the device is preferably mounted as shown in Fig. 2. The valve casing- Ill constitutes a part of an underground water distributing system, the water being supplied through an underground Water pipe represented in the drawing by reference numeral l I, which is threaded into the lower end of the casing body 12. Within the valve casing-is a suitable valve adapted to control the flow of water through it so. that the pressureof the water can be maintained inthe pipe ll. When not in use,'the top of the valve casing may be covered by acap or cover member [3. When in use, however, the cover member 13 is opened to the position shown in Fig. 2 and a water conduit [4 isinserted into the valve casing, the'water conduit having means for opening the valve so that the water can be supplied t'oa sprinkling head designated genera'lly'by-the': reference numeral l5. It will be understood'thatthe sprinkling head may'be of any..de'sired construction,- the one 'shownhaving a sprinkling nozzle [6 which is adapted to rotate on-avertical axis. I i i More particularly andas shown in- Fig. 3;the valve'c'asing includes the body member"l2,-previously mentioned, and a topmember l8- which extends upwardly from the top of the body memher only a little distance. wardly extending portion) of the top member is threaded into-the upper end of the body member l2, 2, suitable-gasket 2B-being provided between these two parts. The top member I 8-preferably has a-hexagonal-portion so it may be readily secured by a wrench. v a r 2 Remov ably positioned in the body member l2 oi the valve-casing is a seat portion 24 having a flange 25 interfittingthe body member l-2,* and havingfa' seat surface 26 which is engaged-by valve l'l, a suitable soft sealing disk 28fbeing provided in a recess 29 in the-valve. .The valve His-normallyurged upwardly by Spring-30', the lower end which engages a finer cross arm 31 of 'the body'member I2. A stud 32 having a screw driveslot 33 is threaded centrally into the valve 21 and provides a guide by reason of the sliding wengagemenvof this 'stud in the c'i'ossj arm ,3! "of the bodymember; The upper end of thevalveforms a'skelton ring 34" slidable tele As shown, the downfit.

scopically within the cylindrical surface 35 of the seat member 24.

As will now be apparent, when the top member [8 of the valve casing is removed the washer 20 and the valve seat member 24 can be readily withdrawn upwardly from the casing, and the valve itself along with the stud 32 and the spring 30 can be pulled out merely by an upward movement, the outside diameter of the valve 21 being somewhat smaller than the upper opening in the valve casing when the top member I9 is taken away. In effecting the removal of the valve and its associated parts, it is unnecessary to remove the valve casing from its underground position, or to disturb the ground to a substantial extent around the top of the valve: casing.

The top member l8 of the valve casing is provided with a bayonet slot 36, providing passages 31 and 38 which extend downwardly and circularly and which are adapted for cooperation with projecting studs 39 and 40 that extend oppositely from the water, conduit I4. The latter is connected in place merely by inserting the studs 39 and 40 in the bayonet openings or slots and then turning the conduit through only a portion of a revolution, this actionbeing facilitated by the extension 4|, and causing the lower end of the conduit 14 to move downwardly as it is rotated.

The conduit I4 is provided with suitable means for opening the valve 21. This opening movement of the valve, in accordance with the illustrated construction, is efiected by the attachment of the conduit l4 to the valve casing, the lower end 44 of the water conduit engaging the top surface 45 of the valve as soon as some small rotatable movement of the conduit has taken place after engaging the studs 39 and 40 with the vertical portions of the bayonet slots. Thus as the water conduit [4 descendsit pushes the valve 21 in front of it, thus opening the valve. During the opening movements of the Valve, and after the valve is opened, leakage of water along the outside of the conduit I4 is prevented by reason of the 'downturned portion 41 of the gasket 20, the latter being, positioned in a suitable recess 48 in the valve seat member as shown in Fig, 2. Thus a single gasket prevents leakage of water along the cylindrically formed outside of the water conduit, and prevents water leakage along the outside of the valve seat member where the latter is engaged with the body member [2 of the valve casing.

With the various parts constructed and arranged in the manner described, it will be apparent that there is little chance for any sub-' stantial amount of water to get into the chamber just about the valve. However, any liquid finding its way into this chamber is disposed ofv through several small holes 48 provided in the top member I8 of the valve casing, and through small holes 50 in the body member l2. These holes are at all times normally sealed from the water supply chamber 5|, by the gasket 41.

The cover or cap I3 is hinged asby a pin 52 to a suitable lug 53 on the top member 3 so that after removal of the readily detachable water conduit l4 the cover l3 can be swung over onto the top of the valve casing, preventing the entrance of dirt. To prevent unauthorized opening of the cover, the latter is provided with a spring controlled or snap lock member 54, preferably in theform of opposed arms 55 on a hub 56 which is rotatably mounted in the cover l3. These arms are normally held in the position shown in Fig. 6 by means of a spring 51 which is engaged at one end by a stop 58 and which is connected at 60 to one of the arms 55. In its normal position, the lock member is so held that the inclined sides 6| which are formed on the arms, as shown, are in position to engage the sides 62 of the bayonet slot passages so as to produce a camming action, rotating the lock member 54 from the dotted line position shown in Fig. 4 until the arms 55 enter the slot passages, whereupon the springsnaps the lock member into the position shown in dotted lines but with the arms 54 now underlying the inclined bayonet slot projections. In this way the cover may be instantly snapped shut without the use of tools, and in its closed position the cover offers no readily accessible means to open the same. Opening movement, however, can be efiected manually,

when desired by an authorized person by means of a tool or key 65 having a specially shaped bar portion 66, of non-circular form, adapted 'to be received in a correspondingly shaped passage 61 provided in the hub portion 56 of the lock, and on the outer side of the same. The key 65 is proferably one that is instantly removable from the cover after the unlocking movements of lock member 54 have been efiected.

While the-form of apparatus herein described constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to this precise form of apparatus, and that changes may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention which is defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A sprinkling apparatus of the character described comprising a valve casing having a passage therethrough and adapted to be supported under ground with its upper end near the ground level, said casing including a body member contributing nearly the entire height of the complete valve casing and a valve seat member removable from the body member, means at the top of said body member for holding said removable valve seat member in place within said body member, avalveguided for movement in a lowerportion of said casing for cooperation with the valve seat member to control the flow of water through said passage andoperable upwardly against the valve seat member to close the passage through the casing, said valve being free to be withdrawn upwardly from said casing when said valve seat member is removed, means for supplying water to said casing below said valve,

and a water conduit adapted to be detachably supported in said casing and having its lower end engagable directly with the top of the valve to open the same as an incident to its connection to the valve casing.

2.. A sprinkling apparatus of the character described comprising a valve casing including a body member contributing nearly the entire height of the complete casing and adapted to be supported under ground with its upper end substantially at the ground level, a valveseat member removably supportedin said body member and adapted to be withdrawn upwardlytherefrom, a top member detachably connected to said body member and securing the valve seat member in position, a shut ofi valve below ground level in said body member adapted-for engagement with said valve seat member, and means normally holding said valve against said valve seat member, said valve being withdrawable upwardly from the body member while the latter remains in position under ground.

3. A sprinkling apparatus of the character described comprising a casing body member, a top member detachably connected to said body member, a valve seat member supported in said body member and held in position by said top member, a valve seating on said valve seat member, a water conduit detachably supported by said top member and having means for opening said valve, and a common gasket for sealing the connection between the valve seat member and body member and the connection between the valve seat member and the conduit.

4. A sprinkling apparatus of the character described comprising a casing body member adapted to be supported under ground with its upper end near the ground level, a top member detachably connected to said body member, a valve seat member supported in said body member and held in position by said top member, a valve seating on said valve seat member, a water conduit detachably supported by said top member and having means for opening said valve, and a common gasket for sealing the connection between the valve seat member and body member and the connection between the valve seat member and the conduit, said body member having a drain hole leading to the exterior from a point slightly above said gasket and above valve location.

5. A sprinkling apparatus of the character described comprising a valve casing including a body member adapted to be supported under ground with its upp r end substantially at the ground level, a valve seat member removably supported in said body member and adapted to be freely withdrawn upwardly therefrom merely by axial movement of said valve seat member, a valve seat in said valve seat member; a top member extending upwardly from the body member a small distance and detachably connected thereto and securing the valve seat member in position, a valve in said body member cooperating with the valve seat and guided in said valve seat member, and means normally holding said valve against said valve seat, said valve being withdrawable upwardly from the body member while the latter remains in position under the ground.

WALTER H. COLES. BERT J. NELSON. 

